The restaurants and cafes where Erling Haaland and Manchester City stars love to eat

You can dine out like a footballer at a host of Manchester's top cafes, restaurants and bars

The news of Erling Haaland signing a long-term contract with Manchester City earlier this month was music to the ears of Blues fans. And many of Manchester's top restaurants, cafes and bars will be celebrating too.

The giant striker is known for his healthy appetite, and has been a frequent visitor to a host of Manchester's best independent bars and restaurants in his time here in the city.

There are a number of bars and restaurants that have become familiar stomping grounds for the region's star footballers - both the Blue and Red sides of the city. And there are a number of regular haunts we've seen Haaland and fellow City stars head to in recent times.

Here's a list of some of the top spots that have been feeding up the footballing fraternity.

Vero Moderno

Salford Italian restaurant Vero Moderno has become a major Man City hotspot in recent times. They've welcomed in pretty much the entire squad (and backroom staff with Pep Guardiola) over the past few years.

Haaland has been one of the most frequent visitors, apparently visiting once a week, every week, for the past two years. And his favourite dish? Apparently it's the creamy mushroom pasta dish there.

The restaurant has been at Vimto Gardens on Chapel Street since 2017. Owner Beppe Piccoli, who is originally from Rome, said his inspiration for opening the restaurant was to bring an authentic taste of Italy to Salford.

Some things customers definitely shouldn't expect at the venue include Italian classics like spaghetti bolognaise, lasagne or carbonara though - as Vero Moderno has a policy of NOT serving those dishes. On the restaurant website it says: "There's nothing wrong with these classics, we love them too. But we wanted to offer a completely new approach to Italian dining, in a modern way, and true to our roots."

Vero Moderno, Unit 4 Vimto Gardens, Chapel Street, Salford

Ad Maiora

This Ancoats butty shop has become a firm favourite with Manchester City stars - and has been invited over to the ground TWICE to cater for the players with their meaty-packed focaccia sandwiches.

Erling Haaland was such a fan he took three of the giant butties home with him after the first visit, and now he's been immortalised with his own sandwich "the Haaland" that hungry customers can buy for themselves.

Billed as their "Biggest sandwich ever" for £25.20 you can get the full works of Italian meats, burrata, pesto and olives all wodged inside their freshly baked bread. In further good news for fans, the bakery, run by Italian couple Daniela Steri and Enrico Pinn, has just announced it has secured its THIRD site this week - although they're keeping the location a secret for now.

Ad Maiora is at Radium Street Ancoats and Kargo MKT at Media City. Sites are open daily.

Fenix

The ultra-glam Greek restaurant, owned by Manchester's entrepreneur brothers Drew and Adam Jones, fast became a celeb hotspot after launching in November 2023.

And so it was the natural place for Manchester City to head after celebrating their fourth Premier League title in four years last May.

The team, including Jack Grealish and Haaland, partied into the wee small hours at the huge restaurant and bar venue in the city centre.

The venue is loved by influencers and can be seen on many an Instagram feed thanks to its unique design - inspired by Mykonos and the Greek Islands.

Fenix, Good Yards Street, Manchester

MNKY HSE

The super exclusive basement restaurant and club MNKY HSE was the setting for the City squad's Premier League winning celebrations in May 2023.

And super striker Haaland was so into the Latin American fusion food here, that he decided to head into the kitchens to cook himself some extra large steaks on the night too.

A MNKY HSE insider said at the time that "the chefs were loving it."

And Haaland himself was clearly impressed with the result. He posted on his own Instagram stories photos of the two steaks he ate with the caption: "F****** love that".

MNKY HSE, 18 Lloyd Street, Manchester

San Carlo

The original Italian celebhaunt in the city centre, there was a time when you knew if you headed inside its King Street West flagship, the chances are you'd spot a footballer.

It recently branched out with its first restaurant in Alderley Edge, serving up its traditional Italian menu in fertile footballer territory. Haaland has been a regular at the city centre San Carlo, and will no doubt be heading to the new site now he's moved to the glitzy Cheshire village with his family.

San Carlo, King Street West, Manchester and London Road, Alderley Edge

Wings

This legendary Manchester Chinese restaurant has played host to that many celebrities over the years that the walls at one point read like a who's who of football thanks to the signed plates it got from all of its high profile visitors.

Bosses showed off a huge refurbishment last year, and now there's a mural featuring a host of it biggest clients - and naturally both Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium feature on it.

Manchester City's Jack Grealish professed to being that much of a fan of the cuisine here, that he reckons he ate a takeaway from here after every game. His order? A rather mammoth proposition of Singapore chow mein,egg fried rice, salt and pepper chips, salt and pepper prawns and curry sauce to slather it all in.

Wing's, Lincoln Square, Manchester

Tattu

Another famous site for both Manchester City and Manchester United squad celebrations over the years, the glitzy Chinese restaurant remains a hotspot in the city centre.

Owned by the Jones brothers who launched Fenix, it is known for its glamorous cherry blossom tree on the upper floor - with the tables around it the most coveted seats in the house.

Downstairs in the bar area, which boasts its own private room that has been known to host some A-list super-secret parties over the years.

Tattu, 3 Hardman Square, Spinningfields, Manchester

The Ivy

Famed London celebhaunt The Ivy has had huge success since lauching its three floor super site in Manchester. And naturally, that's attracted a host of the region's footballers and famous faces too.

It boasts a brasserie on the ground floor, the ultra-luxe Ivy Asia on the first floor and up on the roof is the Ivy Terrace featuring stunning views across Spinningfields.

The venue was the location for Manchester City's team celebrations after winning The Premier League for the first time in 2022, when it was another all-night occasion for the players and staff.

Manchester United may not have had all that much to celebrate in recent years, but the squad have been known to head to The Ivy for team-bonding sessions, including most recently in May 2024.

The Ivy, The Pavilion, Byrom St, Manchester